When Rome Termini was completed in 1951, it was the crowning jewel of the railway world. Originally begun in 1931 by Angiolo Mazzoni, the building was left unfinished after the Second World War. A product of Fascist architecture, only the two lateral wings of the original design were completed as planned. The rest of the massive structure, based on traditional Roman themes, was never finished. In light of the political climate after the war, a competition was held for the completion of the station. Eugenio Montuori won this competition and constructed the stunning head building which stands today. Rome Termini broke new ground using the materials of the period in a striking and bold fashion. Critics at the time were incredibly taken back by the structure. As Carol Meeks stated in 1956, 'not only is it the finest modern station, it is also one of the finest modern buildings. Source: http://members.aol.com/Zacarious1/his.italy.html